A few months ago I became a vegetarian and have picked up my training alot the past few weeks. I know absolutly nothing about supplements and wanted to know if anyone could point me in the right direction. I guess the big thing is to get protein, but is there anything else I should try to fulfill through supplements because I don't eat meat?

Sorry if this is a bad thread that I could have fulfilled with a FAQ somewhere. If you have any problems with it feel free to send it to the wastland.

A few months ago I became a vegetarian and have picked up my training alot the past few weeks. I know absolutly nothing about supplements and wanted to know if anyone could point me in the right direction. I guess the big thing is to get protein, but is there anything else I should try to fulfill through supplements because I don't eat meat?

Sorry if this is a bad thread that I could have fulfilled with a FAQ somewhere. If you have any problems with it feel free to send it to the wastland.

Thanks for your help!

Click to expand...

That's awesome that you're becoming a vegetarian, bro. Keep it up. I was for four years. I hope to get back to it, I'm being selfish eating meat right now, although I'm keeping it free range.

I really didnt like what it did to me while I was training. I started it because I wanted a six pack and to be healthier. Over 6 months I dropped from 160 to 150 and became anemic. Just be sure to take alot of suppliments but in reality the best source of protein for building your muscle is lean red meat. Boca Burgers/Tofu/Edamame and soy are all good sources but not the best IMO.

I really didnt like what it did to me while I was training. I started it because I wanted a six pack and to be healthier. Over 6 months I dropped from 160 to 150 and became anemic. Just be sure to take alot of suppliments but in reality the best source of protein for building your muscle is lean red meat. Boca Burgers/Tofu/Edamame and soy are all good sources but not the best IMO.

Click to expand...

This is why anyone who goes vegetarian, especially vegans, needs to read a book. I only lost fat when I first became vegetarian (I later gained most of it back). I gained 10 pounds of muscle while I was a vegetarian.

This is why anyone who goes vegetarian, especially vegans, needs to read a book. I only lost fat when I first became vegetarian (I later gained most of it back). I gained 10 pounds of muscle while I was a vegetarian.

I've been a vegaterian for 10 years. When I began lifting not too long ago I started at 145lbs and have gone up to 185lbs. So it's certainly possible to make gains on a veg diet.
Just make sure you're getting plenty of protien, and b12 and iron.

You should just take a B Complex and skip taking B12 seperatly. Protein is important and I recommend Whey since you are not getting much protein from animal sources. Incorporating cottage cheese is a good way to add lean protein into your diet. I have been a Vegetarian for three years and I went from 332lbs to 251lbs right now at 6'6".

just curious, where do you vegetarian guys get your protein from, especially enough to gain muscle? ive always been under the assumption that protein you get while eating vegetarian is coming from soy and whatnot.....but someone recommended whey, which comes from milk, so im guessing its cool to drink milk products and such? once again, just curious

The problem with the 12g of protein that the rice delivers is that it is also accompanied by 40 or more grams of carbs. You have to eat foods that have a higher percentage of protein to carbohydrates to act as a meat replacement. Foods that qualify that I include in my diet are: Tofu, Tempeh, Cottage Cheese, Boca Burgers and Whey protein shakes.

Keep this in mind, and hopefully the book Mick recommended states this:

The ONLY source of a COMPLETE protein with all essential aminos is meat. Otherwise you must supplement correctly for good muscle structure and metabolic processing. To get a complete protein, Soy is not enough. Neither is dairy alone, but a combination of Soy, dairy, and legumes will do the trick. And these are needed multiple times a day for ample nutrition.

I have this discussion a lot because I have a lot of vegetarian and vegan customers who report fatigue, lack of ability to gain muscle mass, excess bodyfat storage, etc. And the main cause of it is the misconception that you can substitute this nutrient source for that, regardless of the origin of the two sources. This is simply not true, and leads to health complications such as weakened immune system, digestive difficulties, etc.

The problem with the 12g of protein that the rice delivers is that it is also accompanied by 40 or more grams of carbs. You have to eat foods that have a higher percentage of protein to carbohydrates to act as a meat replacement. Foods that qualify that I include in my diet are: Tofu, Tempeh, Cottage Cheese, Boca Burgers and Whey protein shakes.

Click to expand...

take another look at the nutrition facts in that link.. it's rice protein but the total carbs equal 1.8 grams..